Thread: Help with fine tuning.....

Well, I talked to Lynn on Tuesday at length and I am now a expert honer .... Just kidding. He and I just hit it off. Guess the fact that we both enjoy building fly rods had something to do with it. ;-) He was very helpful and made several suggestions. I know I am new to this but my wife has made the observation that all my hobbies have a common thread..... It is all about the learning and the process. It wasn't long after I started flyfishing that I had to learn to build my own bamboo fly rods from scratch. I have accumulated several hones and pastes so I was well on my way when faced with honing my razors.

After my conversation with Lynn, I spent two sessions at the table and finally got real close on four of my blades. One is giving me fits but I will come back to that one. I am using a Norton 1K,4K,8K,Nagura?12k? ( Not sure...comes from Guangxi China) 1micron paste, 1/4 micron paste, and ChromOx on balsa.

I can get scary sharp and polished edges but they don't last long.... Now I am trying to get some durable and comfortable edges. I have a blade that is quite comfortable but just won't go ATG without some pulling.

Question is this.....What is the process of creeping up on a good edge?

Should I do 5 laps on CrOx and test shave and repeat until it comes in?

Should I get a little too aggressive and let it wear in with stropping?

What is the progression or Re-gression to fine tune?

How do I sharpen without too much polishing of the edge?

Thanks for the help...... Barry

at first all is my Personal opinon.

Originally Posted by bjanzen

Well, I talked to Lynn on Tuesday at length and I am now a expert honer .... Just kidding. He and I just hit it off. Guess the fact that we both enjoy building fly rods had something to do with it. ;-) He was very helpful and made several suggestions. I know I am new to this but my wife has made the observation that all my hobbies have a common thread..... It is all about the learning and the process.

agree100%

It wasn't long after I started flyfishing that I had to learn to build my own bamboo fly rods from scratch. I have accumulated several hones and pastes so I was well on my way when faced with honing my razors.

After my conversation with Lynn, I spent two sessions at the table and finally got real close on four of my blades. One is giving me fits but I will come back to that one. I am using a Norton 1K,4K,8K,Nagura?12k? ( Not sure...comes from Guangxi China) 1micron paste, 1/4 micron paste, and ChromOx on balsa.

I can get scary sharp and polished edges but they don't last long.... Now I am trying to get some durable and comfortable edges. I have a blade that is quite comfortable but just won't go ATG without some pulling.

Question is this.....What is the process of creeping up on a good edge? Your process until 12k isn't bad at all.[QUOTE] Problem starts when you start to use pastes.if i am not mistaken you are using 1,and 1.4 diamond pastes+chro2.this will make your edge very fragile.

Should I do 5 laps on CrOx and test shave and repeat until it comes in?

No your edge should be shave ready before you move to chro2. if not sharpening on chro2 will take days or weeks.

Should I get a little too aggressive and let it wear in with stropping?

i don't think so

What is the progression or Re-gression to fine tune?

You can get there with pastes but it will take long time. use your 12 and take pressure out ,you will end up making 50-100 laps on it

How do I sharpen without too much polishing of the edge?

I have no idea about this

Thanks for the help...... Barry[/QUOTE]

hope i was helpful

Skip the 0.25u paste and see if the edge lasts longer.

Every razor is different. All blades WILL NOT respond to the EXACT same honing recipe. If you have one razor that just doesn't shave that well-JOIN THE CLUB!!!

Depending on the steel, either carbon or stainless-some blades just will not hold a good shaving edge. If you get "scary sharp" and get good results that just go away during a shave, IMO, you have to suspect the razor itself.

Fact is-some razors don't make the grade-REGARDLESS of cost.

Originally Posted by Sticky

Skip the 0.25u paste and see if the edge lasts longer.

Okay.... will try that. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Lt.Arclight

Every razor is different. All blades WILL NOT respond to the EXACT same honing recipe. If you have one razor that just doesn't shave that well-JOIN THE CLUB!!!.......

I understand that..... Just trying to understand the puzzle. I know there is a lot of trial and error but asking questions saves a lot of trial and error sometimes.

What is my finishing stone? Is it up to the task? Would a JNat be better? Should I get some .5 Diamond paste instead of the 1 or 1/4?

Just a suggestion to check your sharpness..... hone a razor that needs it up to the 8k level and shave test. If you get a close and comfortable shave out of it go to your 12k and shave test following that. Check out how much improvement you've gotten from the 12k.

If there is a marked improvement go to the paste and shave test and see how much improvement you get out of that. If you don't get improvement out of any of the steps drop back and start again.

Randy suggested this to me a long time ago. I was going through the 4/8 pyramids and on to the finishers because I had them and I thought that was what I was supposed to do.

For the razor to be truly ready to go beyond 8k it should be plenty sharp and a darn good shave at that point. If it is not then further work is necessary to get it where it needs to be before progressing.

Pastes are great for giving a sharp edge but IMO getting there off of the hones and proving it with the shave test is a better way to know that you are delivering the goods with your hones. Once you know that go to the pastes for that extra sharpness if you want. IOW the paste isn't substituting for a lack of skill in the honing.

This is just IMHO opinion and how I've come to play with the game. YMMV.

Jimmy,

Thanks for that detailed response. I knew you would help me eventually. I have read the "Shaving off 8K" thread but didn't fully understand it. Couldn't tell if it was people showing off or if it was something I needed to learn.

So what kind of edge is possible off 8K? I know that was how it was done in the past but my face won't handle too much without irritation. Will I be able to get a WTG or ATG shave that way(assuming I get it right)???

IME an 8k shave is smooth, close, comfortable. I get bbs with an 8k shave if I have done my part. Speaking of my skin and whiskers. Give it a try and see what happens. You may be pleasantly surprised.

I have been trying to leave the deep 1K and 4K scratches to have "teeth".... With trying to shave off the 8K, would I do more polishing? Am I trying to get sharp and comfortable.... Different than I would if going on to the 12K and paste?

Thanks again,

Barry